The one drowning in the waters, The one shouting for help, The one with tears and screams loud in her voice, The one I sought to help, Is the same one that pulls me in into this endless pity. Shall we look before we leap? Peep before we trust? Shall we ask questions endless times before we give out the cent? A little thought that troubles me A little help that got me into trouble.
Jeruel's POVScoff.A child like me—how could you wonder how I located Brandon? Lol. There's no one I want to find that I can't locate easily. The task is clear: find Brandon, get close to him, have someone take a snap of us, then frame him.But no, I couldn’t be so easy on him by just starting to talk to him like that. He’d soon notice something was off, and hence, I have to be tough, like any kid on the street would be on a normal day.And who says that since we're going to frame him, he can’t satisfy my stomach at this moment? I’m genuinely hungry, and I can just use our target to get what I want before we achieve what we want, if you understand.The moment he starts walking away, my pulse quickens. What if he gets away? What if I lose him? But then he hesitates. Relief floods through me. I know he feels like he’s coming down too hard on me, perhaps thinking he needs to leave. But no, he is prey, and we’ve caught him. Letting him go—Diana wouldn’t like that, and our mission would f
Diana’s POVThe door creaks open, and Jeruel steps back into the dimly lit room after being gone for what feels like an eternity. She’s been out for hours, searching for that person who can help us with this very delicate task. As she enters, a shadow falls across the threshold, followed by a familiar face.It's him—a young boy who’s a constant presence on the streets. I’ve seen him countless times, curled up in a grimy corner, scavenging through dumpsters for scraps, just trying to survive. He’s thin, with hollow cheeks and eyes that have seen far too much for someone so young.“Aren’t you Harry?” I ask, my voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. I need to be sure. I need to confirm what I already suspect. The boy looks up at me, his eyes wide but steady, and nods.
Sandra’s POVI can’t believe my eyes when I see the news. “What?” I exclaim over and over again. I’ve known Brandon for such a long time now, and trust me when I say he can never do this.I mean, Brandon appeared to love children, but he can never be involved with them in an illicit way. And definitely, something is not right.I come from a wealthy home and know that sometimes, when strange news comes about someone, there are usually other things about the scenario that the media won’t tell us or doesn’t know about. And with regard to Brandon’s case, it is most definitely someone trying to frame him.“But who?”No matter how many times I ask this question, I do not seem to arrive at an answer. I mean, who would try to frame Brandon? He is a very likable person; everyone likes him, and it seems I am the only one trying to harm his family.“Or could it be?” Alessandra comes to mind at this moment. “Could it be that the same reason I am against Alessandra is also why other people are aga
Alessandra’s POVThat evening, I promise to make Brandon a special dinner, a way to celebrate our survival, our love, and the simple fact that we are still standing together, despite everything.We laugh as we plan the meal, a lighthearted moment that feels like a much-needed breath of fresh air. A few minutes later, I head to the kitchen, dismissing the chefs for the night. I want this to be personal, just for him, so I begin preparing his favorite dish, pouring my love into every slice, every stir.But as soon as I step into the kitchen, the air shifts—something terrible is about to happen.Suddenly, flashing lights flood our yard, and the sound of sirens pierces the night. I freeze, my heart pounding. Outside, police cars swarm the driveway, their lights reflecting off the windows like ominous beacons. Officers are everywhere, their voices booming as they call out Brandon’s name.My mind races. Why are they here? Why are they calling for my husband as if he were some kind of crimina
Diana’s POVBrandon’s been taken down. Finally, It’s been a long time coming, but with him out of the picture, it’s time to move ahead with the main plan. The air around me feels charged, as if the very atmosphere knows what’s about to unfold. A dark smile tugs at my lips—this is just the beginning.I dismiss Jeruel and Harry with a casual wave, not bothering to hide my contempt for their simplicity. They’re tools, nothing more. As they leave, I shift my gaze to Emily and Olivia. Their eyes meet mine, and with a single nod, we all understand what needs to be done next. No words, no hesitation. This is what we’ve been preparing for.My heart pounds with a mix of excitement and cold resolve. We need to be ruthless and efficient. Alessandra has been a thorn in our side for too long. She may ha
Sandra’s POVMy head pounds with a blinding headache as if a thousand drums are beating inside my skull. My vision is blurred, the world around me reduced to a haze of shadow and pain. Slowly, I force myself to raise my head from the cold, hard floor. I can barely make out the figure of a man seated in a chair just a few feet away from me, his silhouette sharp against the dim light of this dark, cavernous place.The chair he’s sitting on is simple—a study chair—but there’s something ominous about how he occupies it. The entire place feels like a warehouse, vast and empty, with darkness stretching into every corner, threatening to swallow me whole. The air is thick with the scent of tobacco, mingling with the metallic tang of blood—my blood.“You are Sandra Puppet?”His voice is calm, unnervingly so. There’s no malice, no anger—just a detached, almost clinical curiosity. It’s as if he’s asking my name to confirm something he already knows. I blink, trying to clear my vision, and manage
Jezebel’s POVIt doesn’t surprise me when I see Emily and Olivia at my doorstep, knocking with a sense of urgency. Their faces are a mix of determination and desperation. I can tell they’ve come with a proposition—one they believe only I can execute.In this ghetto, everyone knows my worth. When it comes to men, I’m the one they turn to for difficult tasks. Men are fickle creatures, easily swayed by what they see and what they desire. They can pledge loyalty one minute and change their minds the next. That’s where I come in, manipulating their weaknesses to my advantage.Emily and Olivia have already briefed me on what I need to do. As I listen, a smirk curls on my lips. Is it a man they want me to handle? An ex-military man who now works as a personal assistant to Matriarch Alessandra? The thought is almost laughable.After they finish explaining, I agree to the plan. We waste no time, heading straight to Diana’s place. The moment I step inside, she eyes me with a mixture of admiratio
Jezebel’s POVI’ve been treated at the nearest hospital, but if I let this personal assistant slip away now, then I’m not the Jezebel everyone thinks I am.The doctor finishes up, wiping his hands as he says, “There you go, ma’am. You’re free to leave now.”I flash him a polite smile, but my mind is already elsewhere. My fingers tighten around the personal assistant’s arm, my nails digging into his sleeve as I anchor him beside me.The room is cold and sterile, yet I feel the heat of the moment. Matriarch Alessandra sits across from us, her silence dominating the room. When I grip her assistant’s arm, I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. She wasn’t expecting this.“I still feel pain in my leg,” I say, my voice tinged with just enough distress to sound convincing. “It’s much worse than I thought. I don’t think I can walk.”Alessandra’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as she watches me closely, trying to figure me out. Let her think I’m putting on an ac
Robert’s POVMy job is simple: protect Alessandra at all costs. But as I stand here, watching everything unfold, one thought keeps repeating in my head—I’ve failed her.I should never have stayed behind at the hospital, no matter how much she insisted. Alessandra may be strong, but I should’ve known better. I should’ve been there, more alert, more prepared. That woman who pretended to be hit? I should’ve seen right through her. Everything is finally falling into place, and the truth hits me like a punch to the gut.I know who Diana is. I’ve figured out who Emily and Olivia really are. And those three idiots hiding behind their ridiculous code names? Yeah, I know them, too.It was them—we passed them on the road earlier. The bodies scattered across the pavement... the blood... It all makes sense now. Alessandra—Matriarch Alessandra—is in serious danger.That’s why I don’t waste any time. My foot slams down on the gas pedal, racing us past the chaos on the road. Stopping isn’t an option
Sandra’s POVWe pull up to the warehouse, and the moment I spot the front door slightly ajar, I know it’s time. I drive inside, parking with purpose as the tension in my chest tightens. Locking the door behind me, I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what’s next.I watch Alessandra step out of the vehicle, her face calm—too calm. She doesn’t look scared, like I thought she would. Instead, she’s asking, “Where are we now? Are they gone?”I pause. What? Does she seriously think I’m here to save her?A twisted laugh threatens to escape my lips, but I swallow it down. Instead, I turn toward the backseat and yank open the door. My fingers grip the cold steel of the sniper rifle. The weight of it feels satisfying in my hands, a reminder of the power I hold.Without missing a beat, I swing the rifle around and aim it straight at her. “On your knees, now!” I command, my voice as sharp as the edge of a knife.For a second, her eyes widen, but then realization sinks in. She knows now. She’s
Brandon’s POVI never thought I'd find myself here. In custody. The cold metal of the handcuffs still lingers on my wrists even though they’ve been removed. My mind is racing, struggling to keep up with everything that’s happened. How did I get here?I’ve already contacted my family lawyer. He promised he’d help—at first. But then he learned that bigger forces are involved, and he left me to fend for myself. I don’t blame him, though. When powerful people decide you’re guilty, it doesn’t matter what the facts are. According to them, I committed a crime too big to ignore, and they want me to pay for it, no matter who I am.But how do I make them see I’m innocent? How do I prove I’ve been framed? The evidence stacked against me is so clear, so detailed, that even I would think I did it if I were on the outside looking in.It feels hopeless.I sit in the interrogation room, staring at the dull gray walls. The weight of everything crashes down on me. But the thought of Alessandra pushes t
Diana’s POVOut of nowhere, Olivia, Emily, and I suddenly see Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade fall to the ground, each with a bullet wound to the head. Blood pools around them, dark and terrifying, staining the ground beneath them. The sight makes my heart race, and for a moment, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. My breath catches in my throat, and time seems to stand still. I’m in shock, completely blindsided by the sudden violence. How could this have happened? One moment, we’re in control, and the next, everything’s gone to hell. But as I watch them fall, one after another, the horrifying reality hits me: we’re under attack. We’re not safe. We never were.This can’t be anyone but the police. Who else would come at us like this, so precise, so deadly? And it’s my fault. My fault we didn’t get out sooner. My fault this mission is hanging by a thread. I should have listened to Viper when he told us to leave. We should have been long gone, but I hesitated. And now they’re dead—Viper, Red, J
Sandra’s POVI steady myself in the cramped toilet, heart pounding as I carefully position the sniper rifle out the narrow window. The cold metal of the trigger grounds me, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts.Through the scope, I zoom in to 8X. Alessandra finally comes into focus as she steps out of the law firm. She looks composed, but there’s a tension in her movements that makes my gut clench. Something’s wrong.In the distance, off to the right, a group of people is watching her with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. Their eyes are locked on Alessandra, and the cruel twist of their lips sends a chill down my spine. They’re like predators circling wounded prey, relishing the kill before it even happens.I should take the shot now, end this. It’s the perfect moment. Then Brandon would finally be free, and he’d be mine. But something holds me back. These people, whoever they are, might be more dangerous and I need to know why they’re after Alessandra.As
Diana’s POVAs Viper deftly tosses a small canister of smoke into Alessandra’s car. We don't waste a second, swiftly moving to take control of the other vehicles in her entourage.Alessandra is being escorted by three cars: one at the front, one in the middle where she sits, and one at the rear. The plan is precise, and we execute it with the efficiency of seasoned professionals.Olivia and Emily take on the first car. They expertly deploy another smoke canister, filling the vehicle with a thick, suffocating fog. Meanwhile, I focus on the rear car, tossing a canister of my own into it. Smoke quickly engulfs all three vehicles, forcing their occupants to open their doors, desperately gasping for fresh air. Even Alessandra, who had been hysterically screaming moments earlier, is silenced by the choking haz
Diana’s POVWhen Jezebel’s message arrives, confirming what we've been anxiously anticipating—Alessandra is alone. My heart beats faster, not out of fear but from the anticipation of what's to come. It’s time to set our plan in motion.With a cold, calculated calm, I gather Viper, Red, Jinx, and Blade. “She's alone,” I say, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. “Jezebel’s done her part. Now it’s our turn.”They nod in unison, a silent agreement passing between us. There’s no need for words; we all know what needs to be done. The stakes are high, and failure is not an option.We regroup at my rundown, hidden in the shadows of the city. Viper, the most experienced among us, checks his blade, its edge gleaming under the dim light. “Remember,” he says, his voice low but firm, “guns are for boys in the game. Blades are for men.”His words echo in my mind as I glance around at the others. Red is sharpening his weapon, his eyes filled with a cold, ruthless determinati
Sandra’s POVStepping out of the warehouse, I don’t know where I am, and it’s terrifying. I’m stranded, disoriented, and powerless.I stand by the road, feeling utterly lost, watching taxis whiz by as if the world is oblivious to the chaos inside me. My hands shake as I lift them to flag down a taxi. But just as I do, my phone rings.The sound sends a jolt through me, and I glance at the screen. My heart pounds as I see the caller—Private Number. Dread tightens around me like a noose, and I hesitate before answering, my breath shallow.“Hello?” My voice barely escapes, trembling with anxiety.A cold, deep voice responds, as sharp as ice.
Jezebel’s POVI’ve been treated at the nearest hospital, but if I let this personal assistant slip away now, then I’m not the Jezebel everyone thinks I am.The doctor finishes up, wiping his hands as he says, “There you go, ma’am. You’re free to leave now.”I flash him a polite smile, but my mind is already elsewhere. My fingers tighten around the personal assistant’s arm, my nails digging into his sleeve as I anchor him beside me.The room is cold and sterile, yet I feel the heat of the moment. Matriarch Alessandra sits across from us, her silence dominating the room. When I grip her assistant’s arm, I catch the flash of surprise in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips. She wasn’t expecting this.“I still feel pain in my leg,” I say, my voice tinged with just enough distress to sound convincing. “It’s much worse than I thought. I don’t think I can walk.”Alessandra’s eyes narrow ever so slightly as she watches me closely, trying to figure me out. Let her think I’m putting on an ac